What is StrikeForce? In 2010, created as a pilot project by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Provides support to economically challenged areas of the nation.

Goal Work across agency lines to leverage scarce program dollars and get them to those who need them most.

How Will Goals be Accomplished? USDA will partner with rural communities and regions on locally supported projects.

Meet The Team Farm Service Agency Promotes a stable and abundant American food supply while conserving natural resources. This is accomplished through various Federal programs, payments, and farm loans. FSA provides assistance through farm financing, disaster assistance, conservation cost share, and helping producers manage their market risks.

Meet The Team Food and Nutrition Service Improves access to food, a healthy diet and nutrition education for children and low income citizens and expands the market for farmers to sell locally grown products through alternative payment methods.”

Meet The Team Natural Resources and Conservation Service NRCS helps farmers and other landowners plan and install conservation practices to increase productivity and profitability while improving soil and water quality. Provides technical assistance and financial incentives for grazing systems, easements, high tunnels, and organic farming.

Meet The Team Rural Development Rural Development is making lasting improvements in rural communities through investments in core community infrastructure, such as developing or building: improved telecommunications services; clean water supplies; safe, affordable housing; hospitals, clinics and schools; and providing the technical assistance and financing for business creation and expansion.

Meet The Team Virginia State University Collaborates with USDA and state agencies to provide training and technical assistance to enhance farm incomes and improve quality of life in rural communities.

Virginia Activities 2014 Increase USDA Farm to School Grant program applications from 7 to 9 in Virginia.

Virginia Activities 2014 Increase education and technical assistance for Virginia Farmers and Ranchers.

Virginia Activities 2014 Multiple workshops for Small and Non- traditional operations were completed.

Virginia Activities 2014 Develop farmers’ markets which will increase the income opportunities of local farmers and provide fresh fruit and vegetables to Virginia residents.

Virginia Activities 2014 Increase availability of EBT at farmers’ markets by 15% so those eligible for food subsidy programs can use a debit card to pay for locally grown fruits and vegetables and farmers have a redemption point to receive payment.

Virginia Activities 2014 Support Gleaning and Food Recovery in Virginia working with local farmers and food banks.

Virginia Activities 2014 Conduct regional StrikeForce roundtable with stakeholders

FY14 Accomplishments Farm Service Agency Made 518 loans totaling $84.4 million. 25.5% of the operating and farm ownership loans went to SDA and 52.4% went to beginning farmers. Issued a little over $106 million in program payments

Accomplishments RD worked with FNS to add 15 summer feeding sites at Multi Family Housing Complexes for use in providing SNAP meals for hundreds of school children

Accomplishments Food and Nutrition Service Coordinated with federal, state, local and non-profit partners to expand Summer Food Service program. New initiative with Virginia Library Association where libraries in eight counties participated as sites. Overall increase in program sponsors by 6.43% and program sites by 3.31%.

Accomplishments Natural Resources Conservation Service Approved 245 contracts totaling over $6 million for socially disadvantaged, limited resource and new and beginning farmers to install conservation practices to improve productivity and profitability on their land.

Accomplishments Rural Development During 2014, RD provided StrikeForce Counties with $208 million in Housing Assistance helping over 1670 families purchase or repair their home; $15.5 million in Community Programs assistance resulting in 68 projects to improve critical rural utilities and provide vital community needs and provided Rural Business Loans and Guarantees totaling $7.4 million that helped over 87 rural businesses expand and grow.

Accomplishments Virginia State University conducted workshops and field days for more than 1,500 small and historically underserved farmers to increase their profitability and participation in USDA programs including a workshop with Office of Small and disadvantaged Business Utilization to farmers and small businesses to become certified vendors for the government.

Do you want to learn more? Or Visit you local USDA Service Center